Great to see your work again! I've been reading your blog for quite some time, and we've occasionally encountered each other on Instagram I believe ... But I think SubStack seems to be a good new place for sharing and connecting, and I'm very excited to read about this excellent and timely project. May it be resplendent!
You know, I was reading blog posts of yours, among others, in 2019 when I went on a transformative retreat in Béara ... It has completely changed the direction of my life and work, gradually and then all at once. I was researching the Cailleach, and went on pilgrimage to Her Place there, on the headland ... It inspired poetry, stories, changes in career, moving house ... And you and your work were there with me. It was part of a shift in my life; it's how I feel men can engage with your work here, and the figure of the Cailleach more generally. I realised that I had so often looked to men as elders and mentors, but that my life and heart were moving me more towards asking for elder women to guide me, to advise me, to help me on my way. It's something that we do not practice enough: men must realise that they can look to a woman as an Elder, without casting here as a Mother or caretaker. No. We must look to her as wise, as powerful, as sovereign. It is only through her that we can fully become. I'm not sure if it's ... polite?... to post links in a comment here? But please let me know. I'd love to share with you and others a couple of little pieces of my journey with Her ... (can you ask me to delete the lunks if it's not okay? I'm totally happy to ...)
Blessings of the Returning Sun to you and yours, and to all of your readers!
Hi Mark, your story is really moving, thank you for sharing here, and for letting your positivity and gratitude for the way your life has turned shine through. It's very inspiring. I hope this new little space on the internet will grow into a community, this provider seems better able for and encouraging of that, but we'll see. I am content to let things work out in their own time. I am perfectly happy for links to be posted here when they engage with the topic of the post. I am at work now though, so I will have to read them when I get home. I am very curious to learn more of your story since it involves such monumental changes to your life. Thank you for taking the time to post your experiences here. 💕
I hope you have a happy new year and good luck with your project.
Here's something I'd like your thoughts on.
I see Oweynagat as a place of secret women's business, just like Aborigines have such places here in Australia. Men are not allowed at such places and they are chased away either by the women or by bad luck that it brings upon them.
I've never been inside the Cave of the Cats but regard it as the most underrated place of spiritual significance in Ireland.
But just because I think it should be for women only, doesn't count for much :)
But do you see the cave as a place where men should be discouraged from entering?
Hi Colin! That's a really good question. I have been inside the cave at Oweynagat many times, and yes, it feels very much like a female space. Usually, I have entered the cave with other women, but this year my group of companions included 5 men. There was a nice balance of male and female energy. The cave is associated with the Morrigan and Queen Medb was born there, so there is a strong association with powerful females, but in my opinion, so long as men are respectful, they shouldn't be excluded. I'm not a fan of exclusion as a practise in any area of human activity, to be honest. The entrance to the cave has a lintel with some ogham script on it which is believed to say "Fraech son of Medb". It is thought that the entrance section to the cave may have been used as a souterain in early medieval times, so there were clearly no concerns then about male presence in the cave. Would you like to go inside the cave?
Hi Ali, I did go there once but did not go inside. I was happy just to see it. I also went about 100m into a paddock on the other side of the road where there was some sort of old site. Looking at Google maps today all around Oweynagat I could see signs of ancient earthworks, usually round in shape. That whole area is just so hugely significant in terms of myths and legends. I would not liked to have been inside the cave when Medb was queen and I wouldn't like to upset her spirit by going in today, but I would like to go back one day and just be in the general vicinity again. I thought the Hill of Tara was good but I was really taken by Cruachan.
Well by all accounts Medb liked men... a lot, so I'm sure her spirit would be delighted to see you next time you're in the area! 🤣 Cruachan is a site of special interest that I dont think has been fully investigated yet, and may never be, because Ireland has so many of them. So even if you don't want to go into the cave there is still so much to experience. Its worth calling into Rathcroghan visitor centre first though, as some of the sites are on private land, but I think the centre may be able to arrange access via guided tours. They are on Instagram, which is handy, and their page is always interesting as they frequently post pictures of their sites with interesting information.
Great stuff! I subscribed and want to send along some support soon after I've transitioned back to work this winter. I wrote a novel titled Thief of Tales (written under the pseudonym SA O'Hungerdell) that might interest you, which relates to some of the main themes discussed in your site, and includes a revisitation of The Hag of Beara. If you ever took a look at it I would love your feedback. Peace- Steve Harrington
Dear Ali,
Great to see your work again! I've been reading your blog for quite some time, and we've occasionally encountered each other on Instagram I believe ... But I think SubStack seems to be a good new place for sharing and connecting, and I'm very excited to read about this excellent and timely project. May it be resplendent!
You know, I was reading blog posts of yours, among others, in 2019 when I went on a transformative retreat in Béara ... It has completely changed the direction of my life and work, gradually and then all at once. I was researching the Cailleach, and went on pilgrimage to Her Place there, on the headland ... It inspired poetry, stories, changes in career, moving house ... And you and your work were there with me. It was part of a shift in my life; it's how I feel men can engage with your work here, and the figure of the Cailleach more generally. I realised that I had so often looked to men as elders and mentors, but that my life and heart were moving me more towards asking for elder women to guide me, to advise me, to help me on my way. It's something that we do not practice enough: men must realise that they can look to a woman as an Elder, without casting here as a Mother or caretaker. No. We must look to her as wise, as powerful, as sovereign. It is only through her that we can fully become. I'm not sure if it's ... polite?... to post links in a comment here? But please let me know. I'd love to share with you and others a couple of little pieces of my journey with Her ... (can you ask me to delete the lunks if it's not okay? I'm totally happy to ...)
Blessings of the Returning Sun to you and yours, and to all of your readers!
https://thehollowbehindthehearthstone.com/cailleach-bheara-wise-woman/
https://thehollowbehindthehearthstone.com/a-page-from-the-leabhar-draiocht-pilgrimage-to-cloch-na-cailli-bheara-the-hag-stone-of-beara/
https://thehollowbehindthehearthstone.com/hypnagogia/
Hi Mark, your site is wild, gorgeous and intriguing, I left messages for you there. 💕
Hi Mark, your story is really moving, thank you for sharing here, and for letting your positivity and gratitude for the way your life has turned shine through. It's very inspiring. I hope this new little space on the internet will grow into a community, this provider seems better able for and encouraging of that, but we'll see. I am content to let things work out in their own time. I am perfectly happy for links to be posted here when they engage with the topic of the post. I am at work now though, so I will have to read them when I get home. I am very curious to learn more of your story since it involves such monumental changes to your life. Thank you for taking the time to post your experiences here. 💕
Hi Ali,
I hope you have a happy new year and good luck with your project.
Here's something I'd like your thoughts on.
I see Oweynagat as a place of secret women's business, just like Aborigines have such places here in Australia. Men are not allowed at such places and they are chased away either by the women or by bad luck that it brings upon them.
I've never been inside the Cave of the Cats but regard it as the most underrated place of spiritual significance in Ireland.
But just because I think it should be for women only, doesn't count for much :)
But do you see the cave as a place where men should be discouraged from entering?
Hi Colin! That's a really good question. I have been inside the cave at Oweynagat many times, and yes, it feels very much like a female space. Usually, I have entered the cave with other women, but this year my group of companions included 5 men. There was a nice balance of male and female energy. The cave is associated with the Morrigan and Queen Medb was born there, so there is a strong association with powerful females, but in my opinion, so long as men are respectful, they shouldn't be excluded. I'm not a fan of exclusion as a practise in any area of human activity, to be honest. The entrance to the cave has a lintel with some ogham script on it which is believed to say "Fraech son of Medb". It is thought that the entrance section to the cave may have been used as a souterain in early medieval times, so there were clearly no concerns then about male presence in the cave. Would you like to go inside the cave?
Hi Ali, I did go there once but did not go inside. I was happy just to see it. I also went about 100m into a paddock on the other side of the road where there was some sort of old site. Looking at Google maps today all around Oweynagat I could see signs of ancient earthworks, usually round in shape. That whole area is just so hugely significant in terms of myths and legends. I would not liked to have been inside the cave when Medb was queen and I wouldn't like to upset her spirit by going in today, but I would like to go back one day and just be in the general vicinity again. I thought the Hill of Tara was good but I was really taken by Cruachan.
Well by all accounts Medb liked men... a lot, so I'm sure her spirit would be delighted to see you next time you're in the area! 🤣 Cruachan is a site of special interest that I dont think has been fully investigated yet, and may never be, because Ireland has so many of them. So even if you don't want to go into the cave there is still so much to experience. Its worth calling into Rathcroghan visitor centre first though, as some of the sites are on private land, but I think the centre may be able to arrange access via guided tours. They are on Instagram, which is handy, and their page is always interesting as they frequently post pictures of their sites with interesting information.
Great stuff! I subscribed and want to send along some support soon after I've transitioned back to work this winter. I wrote a novel titled Thief of Tales (written under the pseudonym SA O'Hungerdell) that might interest you, which relates to some of the main themes discussed in your site, and includes a revisitation of The Hag of Beara. If you ever took a look at it I would love your feedback. Peace- Steve Harrington
Hi Steve, thanks for subscribing, and your comment, much appreciated! Your book sounds interesting and fun, I love that Herself appears in it!